Innholdsfortegnelse for 4/26/2023 i Classic Car Buyer

The Government’s announcement that no new smart motorways are to be built in the UK will surely be music to the ears of many classic car enthusiasts. I don’t know about you, but I find the idea of breaking down in a live motorway lane, without the option of easily limping to an emergency lay-by, a frightening one. In fact, at least 79 people have been killed since smart motorways were introduced, with no reliable figures for the number of near-misses or incidents resulting in injury. And then there’s the cost; each mile of smart motorway costs millions to build, so the Government stands to save a staggering £1billion by cancelling its existing plans to create more. While active traffic management certainly has its uses, and many will argue that…

The controversial plan to expand the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) across London is set to challenged in the High Court. The outer-London boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Harrow and Hillingdon, along with Surrey County Council, requested a judicial review earlier this year, with the High Court subsequently granting permission for them to challenge London Mayor Sadiq Kahn’s policy on two of the five grounds they presented. The expansion of the ULEZ scheme to cover all 32 London boroughs is due to come into effect in August 2023, meaning all cars that do meet Euro 4 standards for petrol (roughly pre-2005) or Euro 6 standards for diesel (roughly pre-2016) will be subject to a daily charge of £12.50. Cars over 40 years old and in the historic vehicle tax class are…

Further data from Compare The Market underlines regional rises in insurance costs. Drivers in Greater London have seen the largest increase in their car insurance outgoings over the past 12 months; their typical premium has risen 17 per cent per year, up by £137, more than any other part of Britain. By contrast, motorists located in the South West of the country have seen the smallest increase; a nine per cent rise, the equivalent of just £37 per year.…

Caterham is moving for the second time in its 50-year history. The lightweight sports car manufacturer was founded in Caterham, Surrey in 1973, moving to Kennet Road in Dartford, Kent, in 1987. Now the firm is moving once more, this time to a brand-new Dartford facility set to open later this year. The new 54,000-square-foot headquarters will house Caterham’s production, engineering, motorsport and commercial teams following major investment by Japanese owner, VT Holdings. It is hoped that the move will double production capacity, allowing 750 cars to be built each year.…

Underlying just how suitable for a sporting life the Mini inherently was, the first Cooper of 1961 needed only a slightly larger twin-carb engine, a close-ratio gearbox with a remote change and front disc brakes – and those much-vaunted brakes were scarcely an improvement on the standard drums. Before long the Mini Cooper began winning silverware by the truck load, on track and rally stage and in the hands of ‘Works’ outfits, privateers and amateurs. Different engines were tried, with more powerful and race-orientated Cooper S models arriving in 1963. By the time the Mk2 Mini arrived in 1967 the Cooper’s fame was at its height after three Monte Carlo Rally wins (which would have been four consecutive ones if not for the controversial disqualification of the 1966 cars on…

The beginnings of the ‘tin snail’ date back to the 1930s and the ‘Toute Petite Voiture’, but the 2CV as we know it arrived in 1948. Famously intended to be able to transport a basket of eggs across a ploughed field without them breaking, it provided cheap, utilitarian transport; something that didn’t change until production ended in 1990. Early models were incredibly basic and to say they were slow is an understatement, so we’re focusing here on cars from the 1970s and ‘80s. By that time a more (relatively speaking) powerful 602cc engine was fitted with 29-33bhp on offer, making the 2CV more useable on a daily basis. More than 3.8 million 2CVs were made in all, and there’s little else like them. Perhaps its closest rival is the similarly…

It’s deeply ironic that the MGA Twin Cam was seen as something of an embarrassment by its maker in its own time but has since become one of the octagon’s most highly regarded products. In the 1950s, MG had fallen behind both the technological curve and an increasingly busy market. It had excelled in making affordable, fun sports cars with attractive styling, but its TF model was now old fashioned and not quick enough. Its MGA successor certainly had the looks and had much better performance but it needed a true halo model. The Twin Cam would provide it – 108bhp from 1.6 litres wasn’t to be sniffed at in 1958, and neither were four-wheel disc brakes and Dunlop racing wheels. The Twin Cam had superior performance to the Triumph…

A collection of more than 230 ‘barn find’ classic cars described as “one of the best kept secret car collections in Europe” will form part of a unique auction next month. The Palmen Barn Find Collection was unearthed in the Netherlands and includes diverse classics such as a Lancia Aurelia Spider, a Mercedes-Benz 300S Roadster, an Alfa Romeo 2600 SZ and various Facel Vegas. Originally belonging to one private owner, Mr Palmen, the gigantic collection was amassed over a 40-year period and began with a yellow Lancia B20. The cars are mostly unrestored, original examples, and have been kept in two different buildings and a church in Dordrecht, near Rotterdam. Mr Palmen, who worked as a car dealer in the’60s, has reportedly started them all on a regular basis to…

Rocker Cover Burton Power has added a red alloy rocker cover to its range. Suitable for both Pre-Crossflow and Crossflow Ford ‘Kent’ engines, it will also fit the transverse Fiesta ‘Kent’ engine. The part number is FP227RED.  How much? £157.90 Where? burtonpower.com / 0208 554 2281 MX-5 Shield Fitting the modern classic NC version of the popular Mazda MX-5 comes this Transmission Tunnel Heat Shield Kit from DEI. CNC machined into five pieces, it can be ordered as part number 10950. How much? £123.17 Where? designengineering.com / 001 800 264 9472 Tyre Gauge Ring’s new RTC4000 digital tyre inflator is perfect for performing quick pressure checks. Rechargable and cordless, it doesn’t need to be powered from a socket, making it ideal for all classics. How much? £54.99 Where? shop.ringautomotive.com /…

A vast collection of rare Bristol cars and parts have been put under the hammer in a Brightwells timed auction entitled ‘Brian May - A Lifetime of Bristols’. As the name suggests, the collection was amassed by Bristol Cars enthusiast Brian May, who passed away in March 2020. The late Bristol fan’s collection was the star of numerous magazine features and television shows, and he became the world’s ‘go to’ resource for spares relating to the British brand. May created a business from supplying many owners with crucial spare parts, enabling them to keep their Bristols on the road, and also conducted his own significant restorations. Some 28 vehicles were included in the catalogue, predominately wearing Bristol badges, ranging from body shells to fully restored stunners. Amongst the most intriguing…

The Morris Register: inspiring the next generation One of the biggest questions car clubs are asking is “how do we inspire the next generation to love our cars just as much as we do?” Facing the same dilemma as clubs worldwide, The Morris Register created its loan scheme in 2018 to encourage interest. The loan car in question is a 1935 Morris 8; compact enough to fit in most modern garages at just over 138cm (54.3 inches) wide. The pre-war design is a popular one. Powered by a sidevalve engine and equipped with the most basic of driver tech, it’s a car which was loved worldwide at time of sale and for decades after. However, it’s a car which many under 40 have limited memories of. It’s certainly not a…

Having started out on two wheels, Triumph produced its first car in 1923 and would establish itself as a major force in the British car industry. There were highs, lows and more highs before its demise just over six decades later, but even though Triumph’s car production ultimately ended in 1984, it’s still one of the most revered classic marques. So, to celebrate the centenary of Triumph cars, we’re looking back over the company’s past and its most memorable models. The journey began in 1887, when German Siegfried Bettmann founded the Triumph Cycle Company in Coventry with business partner Mauritz Johann Schulte. By 1902 the company was producing motorcyles, its greatest success a contract to supply the British Army during WW1. After the war, Triumph looked to continue its expansion,…

FORD FOCUS Mk1 (1998-2004) Revealed at the 1998 Geneva Motor Show, the Ford Focus had very big shoes to fill. Replacing the much-loved Escort after 30 years was never going to be an easy task, but in designing the Focus, Ford certainly did not play it safe. With its ‘New Edge’ styling and dynamic chassis design, the Focus was bold, well resolved and ultimately very successful. Critically acclaimed from the outset, it instantly became the gold standard for family hatchbacks and put Ford right back ahead of the game. British engineer, Richard Parry-Jones, directed the new Ford’s design, but it wasn’t just its styling that represented a giant leap forward for the brand. A big part of the car’s success was down to its chassis, with MacPherson struts at the…

1948 - The 2CV as we know it is launched at the Paris Salon, powered by a 375cc engine managing just 9bhp. 1970 – Following numerous changes over the previous 20 years, the arrival of the 2CV6 brings the 602cc engine and more modern 12-volt electrics. It’s recognisable thanks to rectangular headlights.  1980/81 – The Charleston edition appears and would become a regular model. 1981 sees not only front disc brakes but a famous appearance in Bond film, For Your Eyes Only. A 007 special edition follows with stick-on bullet holes. 1985-1988 – There’s another special edition in the shape of the Dolly, but just three years later it’s the end of production in France. It’s not over for the 2CV yet, though.  1990 – Production had moved to Mangualde…

SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER AT WWW.CLASSICSWORLD.CO.UK Older motorists are battling rising car insurance costs, with the average premium for 50- to 80-year-olds rising by 16 per cent over the last year. According to research from insurance comparison expert, Compare The Market, drivers in this age group face above-average increases equating to a hike of £45 per year. Drivers over 80 are even worse off, seeing their premiums increase by 18 per cent, a rise of £66. The average annual premium for the worst affected drivers has now rocketed above £400, standing at £435. While insurance premiums have increased for drivers in all age groups, premiums for older drivers with classic cars are bucking the current trend with only marginal comparative increases. According to specialist insurance broker, Lancaster Insurance, its…

A rare Alvis Grand Prix car has been rediscovered and restored after being abandoned in a Warwickshire scrapyard. The 1927 racer is the only surviving Alvis Grand Prix, one of the first cars of its type to employ front-wheel drive. It was first sent to the crusher in the late 1930s but enjoyed a stay of execution. After lying dormant for decades, the car was rediscovered in 2006 by Alan Stote, the current owner of The Alvis Car Company, and Alvis expert, Tony Cox. The Alvis has only just emerged from a lengthy recommissioning process, 96 years after it last competed in anger at Brooklands in Surrey. Though largely original, the rejuvenation by The Alvis Car Company involved several months of painstaking research, including work to locate missing parts such…

It can sometimes seem that any Mini Cooper without an ‘S’ badge positioned on the bonnet is not worth any attention. But the standard 998cc version was always the bigger seller and while it didn’t win at Monte Carlo, the Cooper could be just as much fun as its more illustrious stablemates in the right hands. In any case, calling this 1968 car a ‘standard’ Cooper does it a disservice given how much effort has been lavished on it. It was fully rebuilt in 2009, with the body being taken back to bare metal. All the bills are still in the history file, recording a phenomenal total of £12,000 spent at a string of big-name Mini specialists. BODYWORK Work here included new inner and outer sills, all four floor sections,…

Quotation supplied by Lancaster Insurance Web: lancasterinsurance.co.uk  Tel: 01480 809176 Example quote: £89.97, or £107.97 with Agreed Value. Quote based on a 45-year-old marketing manager, access to another car, no claims or convictions, club member, 3000 miles per year, no modifications, living in SP2 0HL. Disclaimer: Subject to underwriting criteria. An additional charge may be payable. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.…

CONTACT Yorkshire Classic & Sports Cars, Ure Bank Top, Ripon, North Yorks 01798 285661 ycsc.co.uk The original Scimitar GTE, the SE5, had already been a successful application of the sporty ‘shooting brake’ estate concept. For the SE6 of 1975 the GTE really became a genuine four-seater thanks to a further lengthening of four inches, as well as a three-inch increase in the track adding shoulder and elbow room. Rubber-faced bumpers, a black grille and outboard headlamps larger than the inner ones gave the Scimitar a more modern look. A year later the SE6A had updated brakes and revised springs and dampers for a better ride quality, further tilting the Scimitar into the grand tourer slot rather than a commodious sports car. Despite a rocky reputation in their middle age, Scimitars…